FAQs

Photo By: Samsul Huda Patgiri

We answer your questions

IAMAT membership

How does IAMAT membership work?
IAMAT membership grants you access to our international network of qualified doctors and mental health practitioners who are committed to providing travellers the highest standards of medical care.

As a member, you pay our affiliated practitioner directly at the time of service. Members also receive a preferred rate for initial consultations with private practice doctors based on the
IAMAT set fee. Our practitioners can refer you to a specialist and report back to your own doctor if needed. They are vetted by us, an organization with over 55 years of experience in travel health.

As a public service, we also provide verified and up-to-date health information on vaccinations and health risks for all countries.

How much does IAMAT membership cost?
There is no fee to join. Membership is valid for one year and renewable with a donation.
Sign up online or contact us. Your contribution is tax-deductible.

How do I renew my IAMAT membership?
You can
renew membership online by entering your IAMAT membership number and postal code or contact us. Annual renewal guarantees that your member benefits, including access to our Medical Directory, are not interrupted.

I am travelling with my partner and / or children. Do they need to sign up for membership?
Yes. IAMAT membership cards are issued to each individual traveller. Fill out the section in the
Become a Member form with their first and last names. If you are joining by email, phone, or post, please make sure to give us their names.

What amount should I donate to IAMAT?
Any amount is appreciated. You can
securely donate online or contact us. We accept VISA, MasterCard, and cheques. Your gift is tax-deductible.

If you are donating by credit card, the transaction on your statement will show as IAMAT (International Association for Medical Assistance to Travellers).

Is IAMAT a registered charity?
Yes. We have charitable status in Canada and the USA. If you search for us on government or charity websites, we are also known as the Foundation for the Support of International Medical Training, Inc. in the USA and the Foundation for the Support of International Medical Training (Canada) in Canada.

Canada: Business Number 11892 9231 RR0001

USA: 501(c)3 non-profit. E.I. Number 13-2613755

IAMAT is a Division of the Foundation for the Support of International Medical Training (FSIMT).

Organization

Is IAMAT a travel health insurance company?
No. We are a non-profit organization dedicated to travel health. We help you plan a healthy trip and put you in touch directly with our affiliated doctors and mental health practitioners around the world.

If you are looking for travel health insurance, you may already be covered under your employee benefits program or credit card services. We suggest purchasing additional travel health insurance if you are concerned about major expenses such as emergency surgery, extended hospital stays, or medical evacuation. Don't forget to read the fine print and make sure that you're covered for all your needs, including pre-existing medical conditions.

Is IAMAT involved in medical tourism?
IAMAT does not coordinate services for patients who choose to have elective healthcare procedures or surgeries done abroad. We provide travellers with detailed advice on staying healthy during their trip and preventing the spread of infectious diseases. If an IAMAT member becomes sick away from home, they have access to our international network of doctors who provide emergency care or make referrals to a specialist. See what
IAMAT doctors do for our members.

Are you funded by pharmaceutical or healthcare companies?
No. Our revenue comes from donations from our members which include individuals, businesses, organizations, and travel health clinics. This allows us to remain independent and provide impartial travel health information as well as recruit medical practitioners around the world without compromising medical ethics.

Travel health, vaccinations, and prevention

What is travel health?
Travel health is about awareness and prevention. There are three phases to consider: Pre-trip preparation, staying healthy during your trip, and post-trip follow-up. IAMAT specializes in providing pre-trip travel health advice and coordinates an international network of English-speaking doctors and mental health practitioners for travellers who need medical care during their trip.

Travel health is a relatively new field of medicine and there have been major advancements in public education and health practitioners’ understanding of travellers' health. IAMAT started working in this area in in 1960. Generations of travellers have relied on our publications, advice, and high-quality care from IAMAT-affiliated practitioners.

What
vaccinations
do I need?
It depends. To get the proper vaccinations and advice, you need to determine the type of travel you're going to undertake, the geographic location of your destination, the duration of your trip, your medical history, and your current health status. Check our
Country Health Advice pages for vaccine requirements and recommendations for your destination.

What are routine vaccinations?
Routine immunizations are also known as childhood vaccinations. They include Polio, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Diphtheria, Pertussis, and Tetanus. We recommend that travellers have these immunizations updated before their trip. Tetanus and Diphtheria, for example, last 10 years while some childhood vaccinations protect you for life. Get in touch with your healthcare practitioner if you don’t remember when you last got yours.

What are required and recommended vaccinations?
For entry into some countries, you may be required by law to show proof of vaccination against certain illnesses. Required vaccinations protect the population of the country you are visiting and limit the spread of infectious diseases in your home country. Yellow Fever is one example of a required vaccination.

Recommended vaccinations are suggested to protect the health of travellers during their trip and to prevent the spread of infectious diseases across borders.

What are selective vaccinations?
Selective vaccinations are suggested for people going on specific trips such as visiting rural areas, taking part in work assignments, or planning long-term travel, where they are at higher risk of contracting vaccine-preventable diseases than traditional travellers.

How soon before I travel should I get vaccinated?
We recommend getting immunized 6 to 8 weeks in advance. This allows your body to build antibodies (immunity) against infections. Some vaccines are given in 2 or 3 doses and you may have to visit a travel health clinic or healthcare practitioner more than once.

I just found out that I'm leaving on a trip in less than a week. Can I still get vaccinated in such short notice?
Yes. However, this may cause soreness. We recommend getting vaccinated in your home country since vaccines at your destination may not be suitable or safe. Be aware of the risk of counterfeit and poor quality medications abroad.

How much do travel vaccines cost?
Travel health clinics set their own fees. They usually charge a consultation fee in addition to the price of each travel vaccine.